Curly-haired Guy: What the heck? Kotonoha-chan, you actually joined the government task force?
Machete Girl: Yeah… I couldn't figure out how to say no to Kazuko.
Doujin Artist: Kotonoha-chan, you're such a softie.
Machete Girl: I'm sorry!
Doujin Artist: Nah, no need to apologize. I'm not blaming you or anything. Just kind of surprised. You haven't even known that white-haired girl for long, right? Are you sure you can trust her that much?
Machete Girl: I guess… I just wanted to do my part to help finish the world quest.
Wig Guy: Climbing the government ladder, huh? No offense, but completing the world quest through that path is pretty much impossible.
Getting to the top of Japan's government isn't just about personal strength. You need connections, strategy, and the support of major corporations.
And let's be real—those big companies aren't about to let a high school girl rise to the top.
Machete Girl: That's not really my plan. I'm not that naive.
There's a good chance the public will find out about the youkai stuff soon.
I think that's when my opportunity will come.
This is an Actor: Oh, the superhero route?
Machete Girl: P-Probably something like that...
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: That's actually not a bad idea. You'll gain popularity and win people's support. That'll make it way easier to take control of the world.
Doujin Artist: Wow, Kotonoha-chan, I thought you were just a kind-hearted softie.
Amegakure Village's Angel: Someone who knows how to "mua" like Kotonoha-chan could never be just a softie!
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: Pfft, hahahahaha!
Curly-haired Guy: Konan's take on this is spot on.
Machete Girl: Aaaah, Konan-neesan! Didn't we agree not to bring that up again?!
Pretty Boy from Skull Island: I caught an octopus today. Anyone want it? \\[Image]
Eriri stared at the photo Kongou sent and twitched at the corners of her mouth.
That octopus head was about the size of a train engine. Its eight suction-cup-covered tentacles looked strong enough to wrap around Kongou's massive body.
Pretty Boy from Skull Island: Trust me, it's delicious.
Doujin Artist: Even if it is, who could eat that much? How long would it take to finish something that huge?!
Pretty Boy from Skull Island: Two meals?
Curly-haired Guy: Don't lump us in with you, hey!
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: What takes you two meals would take us months! Ugh, I just had dinner… let's stop talking about food.
Villain from Soul Society: Ruiko, what did you have for dinner?
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: Steak and pasta. The two of us ate more than ten steaks!
Doujin Artist: Ha, let me guess—was it with Railgun again?
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: Mugino Shizuri.
Machete Girl: Eh?! You switched?!
This is an Actor: Must've drawn Mugino Shizuri's name today.
Skirt-Flipping Maniac: I didn't "draw" anyone! We're just normal friends hanging out!
Saten Ruiko tried to defend herself, but then she noticed something soft against her arm. Turning her head in confusion, she saw that Mugino Shizuri had wrapped both arms tightly around her right arm.
That was Saten Ruiko's first thought. But then something felt… off. This kind of pose didn't feel like just friends. More like… a couple in love?
No way, she was probably just overthinking it.
Saten Ruiko took a breath and asked gently, "Um, Mugino? What are you…?"
"I'm a little cold," Mugino said softly.
"It's summer though?" Saten Ruiko's mouth twitched as she finally couldn't hold back.
Mugino's cheeks turned red, but she still didn't let go. "Also a bit scared… the streets are empty."
Saten Ruiko didn't even know what to say anymore. You're a cold-blooded Anbu commander who's killed tons of people, and now you're telling me you're afraid of the dark?! Who the hell would believe that?!
Though to be fair… the street was really empty.
Saten Ruiko didn't dwell on the fact that she was holding onto her arm and looked around. The whole street was empty, not a single person in sight.
This was the ring road of the Seventh School District, one of the busiest areas. It was only around 8 or 9 in the morning—how could there be no one around?
Just as Saten Ruiko was thinking that, a loud explosion suddenly came from ahead. A crooked crack in the ground spread toward them out of nowhere.
"What's going on, an earthquake?" Mugino Shizuri froze, looking surprised.
"No, it's something scarier than that," Saten Ruiko said as she pulled her arm out from Mugino's grasp. "Mugino, you should get out of here." With a flash, she vanished from sight.
When she reappeared, she was already under an overpass. The scene in front of her was a mess.
The concrete road looked like it had been sliced up like tofu, full of deep cuts. Streetlights were chopped in half diagonally, and broken pieces were scattered everywhere.
And in the middle of the destruction, a boy in a white shirt lay on the ground, covered in blood. Next to him stood a purple-haired woman holding a long sword, dressed in a rather seductive outfit.
"Kamijou Touma, Kanzaki Kaori?" Saten Ruiko recognized them instantly. At the same time, she realized she must've wandered into a scene from *A Certain Magical Index*.
The reason this place was deserted was probably because Kanzaki Kaori had set up some kind of spell to keep people away.
"Who are you?" Kanzaki Kaori clearly hadn't expected someone to show up, her eyes full of caution.
"Uh, just a passerby." Now that she understood what was going on, Saten Ruiko really didn't want to get involved. She just wanted to quietly slip away. "How about… you two carry on?"
Kanzaki Kaori looked her up and down, as if she had figured something out. "I see… So you're that blasphemer? Running into me—what bad luck for you." She spun her wrist and swung her sword straight at Saten Ruiko.
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